1 Chronicles 12

1 The following is a list of the men who joined David when he was at Ziklag, still hiding from Saul, son of Kish. They were some of the leading warriors who fought on David's side.

And these [are] those coming in unto David to Ziklag, while shut up because of Saul son of Kish, and they [are] among the mighty ones, helping the battle,

2 They were all skilled archers, and could shoot arrows or slingshots with their right or their left hands. They were relatives of Saul from the tribe of Benjamin.

armed with bow, right and left handed, with stones, and with arrows, with bows, of the brethren of Saul, of Benjamin.

3 Ahiezer was their leader, then Joash; the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; Jeziel and Pelet the sons of Azmaveth; Beracah; Jehu the Anathothite;

The head [is] Ahiezer, and Joash, sons of Shemaab the Gibeathite, and Jeziel, and Pelet, sons of Azmaveth, and Berachah, and Jehu the Antothite,

4 Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, (a strong warrior among the Thirty, and leader over the Thirty); Jeremiah; Jahaziel; Johanan; Jozabad the Gederathite;

and Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty one among the thirty, and over the thirty, and Jeremiah, and Jahaziel, and Johanan, and Josabad the Gederathite.

5 Eluzai; Jerimoth; Bealiah; Shemariah; Shephatiah the Haruphite;

Eluzai, and Jerimoth, and Bealiah, and Shemariah, and Shephatiah the Haruphite;

6 Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam (they were Korahites);

Elkanah, and Jesiah, and Azareel, and Joezer, and Jashobeam the Korhites,

7 and Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham from Gedor.

and Joelah, and Zebadiah, sons of Jeroham of Gedor.

8 Some warriors from the tribe of Gad went over to David's side when he was at the stronghold in the desert. They were strong and experienced warriors, battle-hardened, experts in the use of shields and spears. Their faces looked as fierce as lions, and they ran as fast as gazelles in the mountains.

And of the Gadite there have been separated unto David, to the fortress, to the wilderness, mighty of valour, men of the host for battle, setting in array target and buckler, and their faces the face of the lion, and as roes on the mountains for speed:

9 Ezer the was the leader, Obadiah (second), Eliab (third),

Ezer the head, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third,

10 Mishmannah (fourth), Jeremiah (fifth),

Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth,

11 Attai (sixth), Eliel (seventh),

Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh,

12 Johanan (eighth), Elzabad (ninth),

Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth,

13 Jeremiah (tenth), Machbannai (eleventh).

Jeremiah the tenth, Machbannai the eleventh.

14 These warriors from Gad were army officers. The least able of them was in charge of 100 men; the best was in charge of 1,000.

These [are] of the sons of Gad, heads of the host, one of a hundred [is] the least, and the greatest, of a thousand;

15 These were ones who crossed the Jordan River in the first month of the year when it overflows its banks. They chased out all the people living in the valley, both to the east and to the west.

these [are] they who have passed over the Jordan in the first month, — and it is full over all its banks — and cause all [they of] the valley to flee to the east and to the west.

16 Some others from the tribes of Benjamin and Judah also came to join David at the stronghold.

And there come of the sons of Benjamin and Judah unto the stronghold to David,

17 David went out to meet them and told them, “If you've come in peace to help me, we can be friends. But if you've come to betray me to my enemies, even though I've done no wrong, then may the God of our fathers see what you're doing and condemn you.”

and David goeth out before them, and answereth and saith to them, 'If for peace ye have come in unto me, to help me, I have a heart to unite with you; and if to betray me to mine adversaries — without violence in my hands — the God of our fathers doth see and reprove.'

18 Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, the leader of the Thirty. “We are yours, David, and we are with you, son of Jesse! May peace, prosperity, and success be yours and those who help you, for God is the one who is helping you.” So David allowed them to join him, and put them in charge of his bands of raiders.

And the Spirit hath clothed Amasai, head of the captains: 'To thee, O David, and with thee, O son of Jesse — peace! peace to thee, and peace to thy helper, for thy God hath helped thee;' and David receiveth them, and putteth them among the heads of the troop.

19 Others came over to David's side from the tribe of Manasseh and joined him when he went with Philistines to attack Saul. However, the Philistine rulers eventually decided to send them away, saying to themselves, “It will cost us our heads if he deserts us and goes over to his master Saul.”

And of Manasseh there have fallen unto David in his coming with the Philistines against Israel to battle — and they helped them not, for by counsel the princes of the Philistines sent him away, saying, 'With our heads he doth fall unto his master Saul.' —

20 The following is a list of the men from Manasseh who went over to David's side as he returned to Ziklag: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, leaders of thousands in Manasseh.

In his going unto Ziglag there have fallen unto him of Manasseh, Adnah, and Jozabad, and Jediael, and Michael, and Jozabad, and Elihu, and Zillthai, heads of the thousands that [are] of Manasseh;

21 They helped David against raiders for they were all strong and experienced warriors and commanders in the army.

and they have helped with David over the troop, for mighty of valour [are] all of them, and they are captains in the host,

22 Men arrived daily to help David until he had a large army, like the army of God.

for at that time, day by day, they come in unto David to help him, till it is a great camp, like a camp of God.

23 This is a list of the numbers of armed warriors who came and joined David in Hebron to turn over Saul's kingdom to him, as the Lord had said.

And these [are] the numbers of the head, of the armed men of the host; they have come in unto David to Hebron to turn round the kingdom of Saul unto him, according to the mouth of Jehovah.

24 From the tribe of Judah, 6,800 warriors carrying shields and spears.

The sons of Judah, bearing target and spear, [are] six thousand and eight hundred, armed ones of the host.

25 From the tribe of Simeon, 7,100 strong warriors.

Of the sons of Simeon, mighty ones of valour for the host, [are] seven thousand and a hundred.

26 From the tribe of Levi, 4,600,

Of the sons of Levi [are] four thousand and six hundred;

27 including Jehoiada, leader of the family of Aaron, and with him 3,700,

and Jehoiada [is] the leader of the Aaronite, and with him [are] three thousand and seven hundred,

28 and Zadok, a strong young warrior, with 22 members of his family, all officers.

and Zadok, a young man, mighty of valour, and of the house of his father [are] twenty and two heads.

29 From the tribe of Benjamin, from among Saul's relatives, 3,000, most of whom had remained loyal to Saul up until this time.

And of the sons of Benjamin, brethren of Saul, [are] three thousand, and hitherto their greater part are keeping the charge of the house of Saul.

30 From the tribe of Ephraim, 20,800 strong warriors, each highly regarded in his own clan.

And of the sons of Ephraim [are] twenty thousand and eight hundred, mighty of valour, men of name, according to the house of their fathers.

31 From the half-tribe of Manasseh, 18,000 men were designated by name to come and make David king.

And of the half of the tribe of Manasseh [are] eighteen thousand, who have been defined by name, to come in to cause David to reign.

32 From the tribe of Issachar came leaders who knew and could understand the signs of the times and what Israel should do—a total of 200 leaders of the tribe together with their relatives.

And of the sons of Issachar, having understanding for the times, to know what Israel should do; their heads [are] two hundred, and all their brethren [are] at their command.

33 From the tribe of Zebulun, 50,000 warriors. They were fully armed and battle-ready, and totally dedicated.

Of Zebulun, going forth to the host, arranging battle with all instruments of battle, [are] fifty thousand, and keeping rank without a double heart.

34 From the tribe of Naphtali, 1,000 officers and 37,000 warriors carrying shields and spears.

And of Naphtali, a thousand heads, and with them, with target and spear, [are] thirty and seven thousand.

35 From the tribe of Dan, 28,600 warriors, all battle-ready.

And of the Danite, arranging battle, [are] twenty and eight thousand and six hundred.

36 From the tribe of Asher, 40,000 experienced warriors, all battle-ready.

And of Asher, going forth to the host, to arrange battle, [are] forty thousand.

37 From the east side of the Jordan River, from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, 120,000 warriors carrying all kinds of weapons.

And from beyond the Jordan, of the Reubenite, and of the Gadite, and of the half of the tribe of Manasseh, with all instruments of the host for battle, [are] a hundred and twenty thousand.

38 All these men came to Hebron dressed for battle, completely committed to making David king. All of Israel agreed that David should become king.

All these [are] men of war, keeping rank — with a perfect heart they have come to Hebron, to cause David to reign over all Israel, and also all the rest of Israel [are] of one heart, to cause David to reign,

39 They stayed three days there, eating and drinking together, for their relatives had provided them with supplies.

and they are there, with David, three days, eating and drinking, for their brethren have prepared for them.

40 Their neighbors, even as far away as Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali, arrived bringing food on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen. They had plenty of flour, fig cakes, bunches of raisins, wine, olive oil, cattle, and sheep, for Israel was so happy.

And also those near unto them, unto Issachar, and Zebulun, and Naphtali, are bringing in bread on asses, and on camels, and on mules, and on oxen — food of fine flour, fig-cakes and grape-cakes, and wine, and oil, and oxen, and sheep, in abundance, for joy [is] in Israel.